Rio Ferdinand had major doubts that Chelsea could continue to call upon Olivier Giroud as their leading striker, speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents Five.
Giroud led the line during Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Sunday, five days after his sublime bicycle kick secured victory a Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid.
The 34-year-old couldn’t produce anything as spectacular at Stamford Bridge and failed to convert a much easier chance from six-yards out.
This was only Giroud’s fifth appearance for Thomas Tuchel and just the second time all season he’d started successive matches.
Questions ensued over the Blues blunt attack, which has now hit a blank twice under Tuchel.
Ferdinand was asked if Chelsea had enough strike power to push them onto to challenge for Premier League’s or even the top four.
“On form, not at all,” admitted the former Manchester United defender.
“How long are they going to keep relying on Giroud? At his age, where’s he’s at in his career, he’s an impact player 100%.
“For Giroud to be leading the line, it says really where they are at in terms of, they need to make some recruitments in that area.
“Is Timo Werner a no.9? I think he’s better off playing in a wider position where he was playing at Leipzig. They’re fully stocked out there. Got (Christian) Pulisic as well.
“Where does (Kai) Havertz fit into this team? There’s a lot of questions still for Tuchel to be answering.”
Defensively, there can be no concerns for Chelsea at the minute.
That stalemate with United was their seventh clean sheet in nine games under Tuchel.
What will be a worry is their inability to convert chances into goals.
Looking back over Tuchel’s tenure, there haven’t been many glaringly obvious examples of free-flowing, attacking football.
They relied on a penalty to beat Tottenham Hotspur, Sheffield United, and to draw with Southampton.
Giroud produced that moment of induvial magic against Atletico and two scruffy strikes were needed to overcome Newcastle.
Talks of an Erling Haaland transfer have been picking up real momentum lately. It’s now clear to see why.
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I’ve made absolutely no secret about my admiration for Giroud.
I still think he can go on for a good couple of years at the top level, but I can see where the agitation is coming from to get some fresh new blood in.
If it’s not Haaland, I don’t want to hear about it.
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